DOCSLIB.ORG

The Biomineralization in Social Wasps (Vespinae): the Presence of Statoliths

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Biomineralization in Social Wasps (Vespinae): the Presence of Statoliths Scanning Electron Microscopy Volume 1986 Number 4 Article 37 8-23-1986 The Biomineralization in Social Wasps (Vespinae): The Presence of Statoliths J. S. Ishay Tel Aviv University T. Shimony Tel Aviv University L. Arcan Agriculture Research Organization Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/electron Part of the Life Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Ishay, J. S.; Shimony, T.; and Arcan, L. (1986) "The Biomineralization in Social Wasps (Vespinae): The Presence of Statoliths," Scanning Electron Microscopy: Vol. 1986 : No. 4 , Article 37. Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/electron/vol1986/iss4/37 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western Dairy Center at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Scanning Electron Microscopy by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY/1986/IV (Pages 1619-1634) 0586/5581/86$.00+0S SEM Inc., AMF O'Hare (Chicago), IL 60666-0507 USA THE BI0MINERALIZATI0NIN SOCIALWASPS (VESPINAE): THE PRESENCEOF STATOLITHS J.S. Ishay(*)l, T. (Benshalom) Shimony1 and L. Arcan2 loepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978 2 and Volcani Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Beit Dagan 50250, Israel (Received for publication March 03, 1986, and in revised form August 23, 1986) Abstract Introduction In social wasps granular aggregates occur Only a few members of the Insecta have a mainly in the head region and the body integu­ developed statocyst: A cuticular nodule behind ment. In the former location they are present the eyes called Palmen's organ is found in the both on the outer and inner side of the frons. head of the adult and larva of Ephemeroptera; On the outer side of the frons, in a groove tra­ in Dorymyrmex(Hymenoptera) there is a stato­ versing its center, there is a deep pit sur­ cyst above the coxa on the metathorax which is rounded by a membrane which forms a cyst-like an invagination of the cuticle, lined with tac­ sac. In the pit of the hornet Vespa orientalis tile hairs and possessing sand grains within (Linne, 1771), there are aggregates comprislng the cavity. These organs probably function as sllicon (Sl), potassium (K), calclum (Ca) and gravity receptors (Marcus, 1956; Chapman, 1969). iron (Fe), which are arranged in morula-llke In the order Hymenoptera (and others) some fashlon. A granular material is secreted at the species are colored; ln the social wasps base of sensory hairs (sensilla), distributed on (Vespinae), there is a predominantly yellow to both sides of the groove, as well as along their green color found in the cuticula spread over shafts. Aggregates of sillcon and calcium are various parts of the body (Kemper and Dohring, also present on the inner side of the frons. 1967; Guiglla, 1972; Spradbery, 1973; Edwards, The integumental aggregates are comprised 1980), which ls of taxonomlc lmportance: it is of yellow pigment granules. In the abdominal also belleved to serve as a warning signal region these granules, whlch are concentrated (Keeton, 1967). Such pigmented cuticular areas in yellow stripes, assume a quasi-cylindrical in Hymenoptera (as well as the colored wings in shape, measuring 0.6 - 0.8 µmin length and 0.3 Lepidoptera) are formed by an infolding of the -0.4 µmin diameter. Their structure is affect­ cuticula inside and the pigment aggregates are ed by caste, age, exposure to sunlight, and within granules composed of pteridines within drugs lntroduced through feeding. Feeding on the epidermal cells or above them, unlike the colchlcine induces degeneration of the granules, melanin which is embedded inside the cuticula whereas feedlng on xanthines renders them re­ (Becker, 1937;; Desclmon, 1965; Harmsen, 1966; fractory to the destructive action of colchl­ Ziegler and Harmsen, 1969). These pigmented cine. Thelr main metalllc element is K. areas in social wasps have photoconductive as We postulate that 1) the granules on both well as thermoconductive properties (Croitoru sldes of the frons are part of a tympanlc and et al., 1978; !shay and Croitoru, 1978; !shay static organ; 2) the yellow granules (YG) dis­ et al., 1982). Slmilar, although not identlcal, persed all over the external surface of the body pigmented granules have also been observed in possess properties of organic semiconductors; honeybees (J.S. !shay, unpublished observation). 3) land 2 are piezoelectric, and are involved Static sense organs composed of a hollow both in gravlty orlentation and transposition statocyst surrounded by sensory hairs and con­ from photo to geotaxis. tainlng statoliths have been discerned in the heads of various species of Vesplnae (!shay et KEYWORDS: Statocysts and Statoliths in Insects; al., 1983; !shay and Shlmony, 1986). The pre­ Yellow Pigment Granules; Photo- and Thermoelect­ sent paper provides data on the variety of ric Propertles; Biomineralization; Bioaggregates granules encountered In social wasps, and also containing Si, K, Ca, Fe; Gravity Orientation in speculates on their probable functions. Insects. Materials and Methods (*)Address for correspondence: Jacob S. !shay, Dept. of Physiology and The majority of the observations were made Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel on the adult population (workers, queens Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel Phone No. (03) 420 863 1619 !shay, J.S., (Benshalom) Shimony, T., Arcan, L. and males) of the Vespinae species: on Vespa Thln sections were stained wlth l.5°/o orientalis, collected from natural nests uranyl acetate and 0.3°/o lead citrate. around the Tel Aviv area in Israel, and on L Micrographs were obtained by a JEOL 1008 crabro (Linne 175B), Paravespula germanica electron microscope. (Fabricius 1793), Dolichovespula media (Retzius Changes in the size and shape of the yellow l7B3) and~ saxonica (Fabr. 1793) collected pigment granules were evaluated after one of in Germany, as well as many other species of the following treatments or conditions: Vespinae and Polistinae (!shay and Shimony, a) exposure of hornet workers to continuous l9B6). The hornets used for experiments were light for 14 days; b) the effect of age, i.e., maintained in artificial breeding boxes (ABBs) the difference between young hornets (0-24 h), (!shay and Sadeh, 1975) in groups of 5-20, and adults (several weeks old), and 'old' queens kept on a regular diet of 30°/o sucrose solu­ (one year of age); c) addition to the diet of tion and morsels of meat (for details, see J. caffeine, theophylline, allopurinol, or purine I shay, 1964). alone (in a dosage of about 5 µg/hornet/day) Hornets and wasps were killed by freezing or together with colchicine for two weeks; d) and stored until processing. Specimens were deviation from the normal pattern due to an first observed under light microscopy for pre­ aberration caused either by excessive yellow liminary location of specific areas. pigment, or by its absence. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy The photoelectric properties of the yellow dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) abdominal stripes in situ (i.e., when connected Microstructural investigation as well as to the intact body), or of the separated yellow associated chemical information were carried pigment granules, were examined by observing out by JEOL-35 SEM, Cambridge Stereoscan 180S the change in resistance under illumination and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis System - and/or in the dark. This was achieved by PROXANIII equipped with a Si (Li) - Sl2.5-4 exposing the hornet after each measurement to high resolution detector. a low temperature (approximately 0°C), for For microstructural observation, the spec­ 5-15 min. The change in resistance upon imens were attached to aluminium or copper illumination was measured with an integral stubs with silver paint and sputter-coated by white light from incandescent bulbs of 100 W a 200-300 nm gold layer. and 220 Vat a distance of 20 cm from the Parts of the internal surfaces in front specimen. The change in resistance as a were investigated after fixation for a minimum function of illumination with white light was period of 4 h with 2.5°/o glutaraldehyde in measured in two ways: l) during 15-20 min of O.lM phosphate buffer pH 7.2, dehydrated through irradiation with light (until a saturation graded ethanols, then critical point dried (CPD) level was attained), and 2) by further exposure from liquid carbon dioxide and carbon and/or to a light/dark rhythm every 2 min (i.e., gold-sputtered. intermittent illumination). Control experiments Location of a number of elements presented were made to ascertain that the electrical in the frons area was investigated by x-ray connection, i.e. the silver paint, tungsten microanalysis (EDX) on unfixed as well as on wires or the glass were not in any way photo­ fixed tissues. Semi-quantitative measurements conductive. (For further details, see !shay were performed on YGs using gelatin blocks as and Croitoru, 1978; I shay et al., 1980). an organic matrix. Methods for evaluating the thermoelectric Stereo pictures at low and high magnifi­ properties, thermoelectric (Seebeck) effect cation were performed in order to check the and electrical capacitance of the yellow versus proper geometry for x-ray analysis. Minute brown stripes of the hornet and wasp cuticle parts of the above specimens (about 1-2 mm2) were also described earlier (Shimony and !shay, were tailored accordingly under a light micro­ l98la,b; !shay et al., 1982a; Shimony and scope and attached to a carbon stub by carbon !shay, 1984). In this study individual hornets paint. The EDXwas carried out at l5kV-20kV were attached with glue to a microscope slide accelerating voltage with a 50 and 100 sec between two silver paint electrodes. The (lifetime) counting time for each analysis. yellow stripes on the abdominal segments were Occasionally, a very thin layer of gold, connected to the electrodes with thin tungsten insufficient to obscure the EDXpeaks being wires.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • André Nel Sixtieth Anniversary Festschrift
    Palaeoentomology 002 (6): 534–555 ISSN 2624-2826 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/pe/ PALAEOENTOMOLOGY PE Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press Editorial ISSN 2624-2834 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.2.6.1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:25D35BD3-0C86-4BD6-B350-C98CA499A9B4 André Nel sixtieth anniversary Festschrift DANY AZAR1, 2, ROMAIN GARROUSTE3 & ANTONIO ARILLO4 1Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II, Department of Natural Sciences, P.O. Box: 26110217, Fanar, Matn, Lebanon. Email: [email protected] 2State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China. 3Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB-UMR 7205-CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, EPHE, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, Entomologie, F-75005, Paris, France. 4Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. FIGURE 1. Portrait of André Nel. During the last “International Congress on Fossil Insects, mainly by our esteemed Russian colleagues, and where Arthropods and Amber” held this year in the Dominican several of our members in the IPS contributed in edited volumes honoring some of our great scientists. Republic, we unanimously agreed—in the International This issue is a Festschrift to celebrate the 60th Palaeoentomological Society (IPS)—to honor our great birthday of Professor André Nel (from the ‘Muséum colleagues who have given us and the science (and still) national d’Histoire naturelle’, Paris) and constitutes significant knowledge on the evolution of fossil insects a tribute to him for his great ongoing, prolific and his and terrestrial arthropods over the years.
    [Show full text]
  • An Inventory of Nepal's Insects
    An Inventory of Nepal's Insects Volume III (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera & Diptera) V. K. Thapa An Inventory of Nepal's Insects Volume III (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera& Diptera) V.K. Thapa IUCN-The World Conservation Union 2000 Published by: IUCN Nepal Copyright: 2000. IUCN Nepal The role of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in supporting the IUCN Nepal is gratefully acknowledged. The material in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for education or non-profit uses, without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. IUCN Nepal would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication, which uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes without prior written permission of IUCN Nepal. Citation: Thapa, V.K., 2000. An Inventory of Nepal's Insects, Vol. III. IUCN Nepal, Kathmandu, xi + 475 pp. Data Processing and Design: Rabin Shrestha and Kanhaiya L. Shrestha Cover Art: From left to right: Shield bug ( Poecilocoris nepalensis), June beetle (Popilla nasuta) and Ichneumon wasp (Ichneumonidae) respectively. Source: Ms. Astrid Bjornsen, Insects of Nepal's Mid Hills poster, IUCN Nepal. ISBN: 92-9144-049 -3 Available from: IUCN Nepal P.O. Box 3923 Kathmandu, Nepal IUCN Nepal Biodiversity Publication Series aims to publish scientific information on biodiversity wealth of Nepal. Publication will appear as and when information are available and ready to publish. List of publications thus far: Series 1: An Inventory of Nepal's Insects, Vol. I. Series 2: The Rattans of Nepal.
    [Show full text]
  • Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini)
    JHR 38: 135–139 (2014)Males of Neotropical social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini)... 135 doi: 10.3897/JHR.38.7763 REVIEW ARTICLE www.pensoft.net/journals/jhr Males of Neotropical social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini) recognize colonies with virgin females Laura Chavarría Pizarro1,2, Fernando Barbosa Noll3 1 Present address: Urbanización San Angel casa 2B Guayabos, 11801 Curridabat, San José, Costa Rica 2 Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP-USP, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Bloco 2, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil 3 Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, IBILCE— UNESP, Rua Cristovão Colombo, 2265 CEP 15055-240, São Jose do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil Corresponding author: Laura Chavarría Pizarro ([email protected]) Academic editor: Jack Neff | Received 20 April 2014 | Accepted 13 May 2014 | Published 12 June 2014 Citation: Chavarría L, Noll FB (2014) Males of Neotropical social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini) recognize colonies with virgin females. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 38: 135–139. doi: 10.3897/JHR.38.7763 Abstract Male behavior of Neotropical swarm-founding wasps has rarely been observed. The few published ob- servations about male activities only describe their behavior during the short period they spend inside nests. In consequence, virtually nothing is known about what they do outside the colonies, and even less is known about mating behavior. This paper provides the first report of Epiponini males arriving at a colony with virgin females. The behavior of males and workers after queen removal was observed in one colony of Chartergellus communis located at a farm in Pedregulho, São Paulo, Brazil. The day after queen elimination, males were observed outside the nest.
    [Show full text]
  • Sphecos: a Forum for Aculeate Wasp Researchers
    SPHECOS Number 12 - June 1986 , A Forum for Aculeate Wasp Researchers Arnold S. Menke, Editor , Terry Nuhn, E(lj_torial assistant Systematic Entcnology Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, USDA c/o U. s. National Museum of Natural History \olashington OC 20560 (202) 382 1803 Editor's Ramblings Rolling right along, here is issue 12! Two issues of that wonderful rag called Sphecos for the price of one! This number contains a lot of material on collections, collecting techniques, and collecting reports. Recent literature, including another vespine suppliment by Robin Edwards, rounds off this issue. Again I owe a debt of thanks to Terry Nuhn for typing nearly all of this. Rebecca Friedman and Ludmila Kassianoff helped with some French and Russian translations, respectively. Research News John Wenzel (Snow Entomological Museum, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045) writes: "I am broadly interested in problems of chemical communication, mating behavior, sex ratio, population genetics and social behavior. I am currently working on a review of vespid nest architecture and hope that I can contribute something toward resolution of the relationships of the various genera of the tribe Polybiini. After visiting the MCZ, AMNH and the USNM I conclude that there are rather few specimens of nests in the major museums and I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has photos or reliable notes on nests that are anomolous in form, placement, or otherwise depart from expectations. I am especially interested in seeing some nests or fragments of the brood region of any Polybioides or Parapolybia. Tarlton Rayment Again RAYMENT'S DRAWINGS - ACT 3 by Roger A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera) 37 Doi: 10.3897/JHR.28.3514 Research Article
    JHR 28: 37–65 (2012) The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera) 37 doi: 10.3897/JHR.28.3514 RESEARCH ARTICLE www.pensoft.net/journals/jhr The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera) Lynn S. Kimsey1, James M. Carpenter2 1 Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California 95616 2 American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024 Corresponding author: Lynn S. Kimsey ([email protected]) Academic editor: Wojciech Pulawski | Received 12 June 2012 | Accepted 30 July 2012 | Published 24 August 2012 Citation: Kimsey LS, Carpenter JM (2012) The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28: 37–65. doi: 10.3897/JHR.28.3514 Abstract The species of paper wasps in the tribe Vespini, family Vespidae from America North of Mexico are re- viewed, including a new identification key to the genera and species, complete synonymy, distribution and biology. This fauna includes six species ofDolichovespula Rohwer, three species of Vespa Linnaeus and 13 species of Vespula Thomson. No Holarctic species are recognized, with the result that Dolichovespula arc- tica (Rohwer) and Vespula intermedia (du Buysson) are again recognized as species, while Vespula infernalis (de Saussure) is given new status as a species. Keywords Vespa, Dolichovespula, Vespula Introduction Vespinae, or the yellow jackets and hornets, are among the most recognizable wasps in North America. All of the species are either social or are social parasites of other congeners. They construct their nests out of a mixture of plant fibers and salivary secre- tions, and the nests can range from baseball-sized, with a few thousand cells, to nests with hundreds of thousands of cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Morphology of the Stinger in Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
    insects Article Comparative Morphology of the Stinger in Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Mario Bissessarsingh 1,2 and Christopher K. Starr 1,* 1 Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; [email protected] 2 San Fernando East Secondary School, Pleasantville, Trinidad and Tobago * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: Both solitary and social wasps have a fully functional venom apparatus and can deliver painful stings, which they do in self-defense. However, solitary wasps sting in subduing prey, while social wasps do so in defense of the colony. The structure of the stinger is remarkably uniform across the large family that comprises both solitary and social species. The most notable source of variation is in the number and strength of barbs at the tips of the slender sting lancets that penetrate the wound in stinging. These are more numerous and robust in New World social species with very large colonies, so that in stinging human skin they often cannot be withdrawn, leading to sting autotomy, which is fatal to the wasp. This phenomenon is well-known from honey bees. Abstract: The physical features of the stinger are compared in 51 species of vespid wasps: 4 eumenines and zethines, 2 stenogastrines, 16 independent-founding polistines, 13 swarm-founding New World polistines, and 16 vespines. The overall structure of the stinger is remarkably uniform within the family. Although the wasps show a broad range in body size and social habits, the central part of Citation: Bissessarsingh, M.; Starr, the venom-delivery apparatus—the sting shaft—varies only to a modest extent in length relative to C.K.
    [Show full text]
  • Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) Based on the Material of the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (Austria)
    ©Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, B 114 27–35 Wien, Oktober 2012 Notes on the genus Provespa ASHMEAD, 1903 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) based on the material of the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (Austria) M. Madl* Abstract An annotated catalogue of the genus Provespa ASHMEAD, 1903 is provided. New records are dealt with from Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. Key words: Vespidae, Vespinae, Provespa, catalogue, new records, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Oriental Region. Zusammenfassung Eine kommentierte Artenliste der Gattung Provespa ASHMEAD, 1903 wird vorgelegt. Neue Funddaten von Brunei, China, Indonesien, Malaysia, Myanmar und Thailand werden mitgeteilt. Introduction Currently the small subfamily Vespinae consists of four extant genera: Dolichovespula ROHWER, 1916, Provespa ASHMEAD, 1903, Vespa LINNAEUS, 1758, and Vespula THOMSON, 1869 (CARPENTER & KOJIMA 1997). The genus Provespa, which contains only three spe- cies, is restricted to the Oriental Region and occurs from India (East Himalayas) via southern China to Vietnam and via the Malaysian Peninsula to Sumatra, West-Java and Borneo including nearby smaller islands. There are occasional records from Sulawesi, but an established occurrence is still doubtful. Species of the genus Provespa can be easily recognized by their yellow-brown body colour and the enlarged ocelli. They are nocturnal in their habits and new colonies are founded by swarming. The larvae and pupae of Provespa species are consumed by people in China and Indonesia. In Indonesia Provespa anomala (DE SAUSSURE, 1854) is known as edible insect from Sumatra (VAN DER MEER MOHR 1941) and Kalimantan (CHUNG 2010) and Provespa nocturna VAN DER VECHT, 1935 from Sumatra (VAN DER MEER MOHR 1941).
    [Show full text]
  • Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
    Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh http://journals.cambridge.org/TRE Additional services for Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Email alerts: Click here Subscriptions: Click here Commercial reprints: Click here Terms of use : Click here The wasps, bees and ants (Insecta: Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Insect Limestone (Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK Alexander V. Antropov, Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Stephen G. Compton, Gennady M. Dlussky, Andrey I. Khalaim, Victor A. Kolyada, Mikhail A. Kozlov, Ksenia S. Perlieva and Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh / Volume 104 / Issue 3-4 / May 2014, pp 335 - 446 DOI: 10.1017/S1755691014000103, Published online: 30 May 2014 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1755691014000103 How to cite this article: Alexander V. Antropov, Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Stephen G. Compton, Gennady M. Dlussky, Andrey I. Khalaim, Victor A. Kolyada, Mikhail A. Kozlov, Ksenia S. Perlieva and Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn (2014). The wasps, bees and ants (Insecta: Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Insect Limestone (Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK . Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 104, pp 335-446 doi:10.1017/S1755691014000103 Request Permissions : Click here Downloaded from http://journals.cambridge.org/TRE, IP address: 146.231.3.1 on 31 Jul 2014 Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 104, 335–446, 2014 (for 2013) The wasps, bees and ants (Insecta: Vespida ¼ Hymenoptera) from the Insect Limestone (Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK Alexander V.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance
    Copyedited by: OUP Insect Systematics and Diversity, (2020) 4(3): 2; 1–27 doi: 10.1093/isd/ixaa006 Taxonomy Research The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/isd/article-abstract/4/3/2/5834678 by USDA/APHIS/NWRC user on 02 June 2020 Allan H. Smith-Pardo,1,4 James M. Carpenter,2 and Lynn Kimsey3 1USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Science and Technology (S&T), Sacramento, CA, 2Department of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 3Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, and 4Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Subject Editor: Heather Hines Received 20 December, 2019; Editorial decision 11 March, 2020 Abstract Hornets in the genus Vespa (Vespidae, Vespinae) are social wasps. They are primarily predators of other in- sects, and some species are known to attack and feed on honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), which makes them a serious threat to apiculture. Hornet species identification can be sometimes difficult because of the amount of intraspecific color and size variation. This has resulted in many species-level synonyms, scattered literature, and taxonomic keys only useful for local populations. We present a key to the world species, information on each species, as well as those intercepted at United States Ports of Entry during the last decade. Images of all the species and some of the subspecies previously described are also included. Resumen Los avispones (Vespidae: Vespinae: Vespa) son avispas sociales, depredadoras de otros insectos y algunas de las especies muestran cierta preferencia por abejas, incluyendo las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera L.) convirtiéndose en una amenaza para la apicultura.
    [Show full text]
  • Vespa Crabro
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Portal de Periódicos Eletrônicos da Universidade Estadual... 1075 Structure of Nests and Colony Sizes of the European Hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in Urban Conditions by Jerzy Nadolski1 ABSTRACT Studies of different groups of insects in urban areas sometimes show large populations, greater than in non-urban areas. The reason for this is a presence in the cities some of dominating species which often occur almost en masse. This group includes, inter alia, hymenopterans and especially social wasps (Vespinae). Colonies and nests of two wasp species, the European hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) in areas of the city of Łódź in Poland were studied. Whole colonies positioned both in buildings as well in natural places, size of societies, parameters their nests, differentiation of cells in combs and their location were investigated. We also studied the correlation between the size of the nest and societies of these insects. It was found that nests established in the buildings are much larger, produced more individuals of reproductive castes and thus obtained a better reproductive success especially for the hornet colonies whose queens prefer the buildings as a place to nest. Key Words: Urban fauna, social wasps, Vespa crabro, Dolichovespula sax- onica, Hymenoptera, Vespinae, nests of wasps. INTRODUCTION Due to the diversity of habitats and wealth of species as well their small size, there is often a lack of information regarding insects existing in urban areas. Individual insect species react differently to urbanization pressure and mosaics of environment within cities and only some of them are able to effectively inhabit these areas with very specific ecological niches.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Relationships and Classification of the Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)·
    Systematic Entomology (1987) 12, 413-431 Phylogenetic relationships and classification of the Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)· JAMES M. CARPENTER Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University,'! Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. ABSTRACT. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera, subgenera and species-groups ofthe Vespinae are analysed using cladistic techniques. The results are used as the basis for a natural classification of these wasps. The cladogram for the four genera recognized is: Vespa + .cProvespa + (Dolichovespula + Vespula)). No subgenera are recognized; all those previously described are synonymized with the appropriate genus. The . synonymies of Nyctovespa with Vespa and Rugovespula with Vespula are new. Introduction Nomenclature. More serious is the lack of a comprehensive phylogenetic system. As a The yellowjack6ts and hornets are the· most result, paraphyletic taxa are in use, and much­ familiar of wasps. Almost ubiquitous through­ discussion of the evolutionary development of out the north temperate regions and oriental behaviour is misplaced. Without differentiation tropics, they are generally recognized - and of features into derived and primitive states, feared - by layrrmh. The history of human disputes ongroupings and evolutionary develop­ knowledge of these wasps is ancient (cf. Sprad­ ment are unresolvable (cf. Yamane, 1976; bery, 1973; Edwards, 1980). The fascination Greene, 1979; Matsuura & Yamane, 1984; Mac­ engendered by their eusocial behaviour is also Donald & Matthews, 1975, 1984). The present ancient, and so they are the subject of an ever­ work is intended to redress this situation, by burgeoning number of behavioural studies. In providing the first comprehensive cladistic treat­ addition to social organization, considerable ment of supraspecific taxa in the Vespinae. current interest is focused on aspects of venom chemistry, economic injury and biological con­ trol potential (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Sphecos: a Forum for Aculeate Wasp Researchers
    SPHECOS A FORUM FOR ACULEATE WASP RESEARCHERS ARNOLD S. MENKE, Editor TE'rry Nuhn, Editorial Assistant Systematic Entomology Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, USDA c/o U. S. National Museum of Natural History Washington DC 20560 (202) 382 1803 NUMBER 16, FEBRUARY, 1988 Editorial Chaff Sphecos is gammg in stature. The 1987 Zoological Record abstracted some articles from Sphecos J3! Does this mean Sphecos is a publication? I suppose that only time will decide that, although Dave Wahl (Ichnews 10:1-2) says that "these newsletters don't count as 'real' pubs.• But then the opinion of anyone who is still using the word "erected" (Ichnews J 0:4) in connection with genera is suspect (see Sphecos 10:25). If my comments sound like I want Sphecos to be recognized as a "publication" - well it isn't true. I don't really care one way or the other. Mike Sharkey and Dave Wahi are to be congratulated, by the way, for their fine presentation on the "Phylogeny of the Ichneumonidae• in Ichnews I0. ~ Bezark has agreed to help produce a new Sphecos Directory and as soon as Ron McGinley comes through with a copy of the software program used for the Melissa Directory we can get going on this much needed item. Our wasp logo for this issue is Anteon flavicorne (Dahlman). I want to thank Terry Nuhn for again entering much of this issue into the computer. Research News Howard Evans and Kevin O'Neill (Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. 80523) report that their monograph on the natural history and behavior of North American beewolves (Philanthus) is scheduled to be published in 1988 by Cornell University Press.
    [Show full text]